System and method for providing and/or obtaining electronic documents

ABSTRACT

A system and method comprising filtering electronic data on a transaction per transaction basis and replicating the filtered electronic data in response to a request to obtain electronic data on the transaction per transaction basis. The system and method further includes providing the filtered replicated electronic data for viewing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to a system and method for providingelectronic documents and, more particularly, to a system and method forreplicating one or more subsets of electronic documents using rule basedfiltering and/or artificial intelligence.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The transfer of electronic data over a network is quite ubiquitous intoday's age of computer technology. This electronic data may be email,photographs, video, business presentations, or the like, all of whichvary in storage space requirements and transmission times over anetwork. Of course, larger documents, etc. will require larger amountsof storage space and longer transmission times than a smaller document.

It is not uncommon for electronic data to be transmitted to a server forfuture retrieval or, in the case of email, replication and delivery to aremote device such as, for example, a portable digital assistant (PDA).These transmissions may be over a network such as, for example, theInternet, LAN, WAN, etc. all of which may be accessed through a varietyof mechanisms. By way of example, the end user may have a dial-upconnection, wireless devices and mechanisms, broadband connection andthe like. Depending on the type of connection and a host of otherfactors such as location, accessibility, etc. the downloading time ofthe electronic data will vary.

In the situation of email, for example, it is not uncommon for users toreceive hundreds of emails in a day, all of varying size and importance.Because of many factors such as the amount of email received each day,limited resources, e.g., storage space on the PDA or limited bandwidthto download many documents, etc. the user may not be able to download animportant document in the time available. Take for example a marketingrepresentative currently on travel with only a limited time, e.g.,thirty minutes, before the next flight. The marketing representativereceives an urgent phone message requesting review of a criticaldocument with a very short required turn-around-time. Within this tightwindow of opportunity, the user must find a power source and networksource to download the presentation to review. In this situation, theuser only has a dial-up connection and the presentation is 10 MB. Usingexisting technology, the user has no way to give priority to this oneparticular email and ignore all other email.

Thus, using today's technology, the user has limited choices to controlthe transfer of data over the network, which is important to many usersrequiring immediate access to certain important documents, but with onlya limited amount of time or resources to download these importantdocuments. By way of example, current technology addresses the issue oflimiting excessive data transfer by limited means, including:

-   -   tagging of the electronic data as high priority, a simple        approach which is not discriminating as to which document should        be downloaded first; and    -   limiting the number of new pieces of electronic data to        transfer, by quantity, by data size or partial or summary type        formats.

Lotus Notes® is one type of application, which allows limited datatransfer. Lotus Notes is well known for its strengths in replication,above all others in the industry. By way of illustration, Lotus Notesreplication has the ability to front load the replication queue withsmaller documents first so that one large document does not hold manysmaller documents “hostage” until the larger one is downloaded. Noteswill then prioritize those documents via a binary urgency flag, andfinally it allows for summary data to be transmitted to the enduser—limiting the content of the entire message.

Still other solutions use the notion of headers in email, or NNTP allowsthe transfer of basic information while reserving the details for afollow-on interaction. Other technologies include the notion oftranscoding where an intermediary server modifies the data transferredas part of a transaction. But these techniques lack the requiredgranularity and flexibility needed to efficiently sort and replicate thedata for downloading. Thus, in current technologies, all of the data isstill transferred even if only one piece of data is required or desiredby the user. In fact, current replication technology is onlyaccomplished based on limited meta data, e.g., size, time and a binaryurgency flag. By way of further example:

-   -   Sub-set gross replication: This technique identifies files        stored in a particular way (folder/category) and transfers all        of the files (not just files which are most important); and    -   Transcoding proxy solutions: This technique reduces the data by        altering the data.

Accordingly, there exists a need in the art to overcome the deficienciesand limitations described hereinabove.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, a method comprising filtering electronic data on atransaction per transaction basis and replicating the filteredelectronic data in response to a request to obtain electronic data onthe transaction per transaction basis. The method further includesproviding the filtered replicated electronic data for viewing.

In another aspect of the invention, the method comprises storingelectronic data in a server, receiving a request to obtain a subset ofthe electronic data and filtering the electronic data on a transactionby transaction basis based on characteristics of the electronic data.The method further includes replicating the filtered electronic data inresponse to the request to obtain electronic data on the transaction pertransaction basis and providing the filtered replicated electronic dataover a network for viewing of the filtered replicated electronic data.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a system comprises a serverhaving a database containing electronic data, and at least one of ahardware and software component for searching the data store for contentassociated with the electronic data based upon a search criteria. Thesystem compares the search criteria to the content associated with theelectronic data and replicates certain parts of the electronic databased on search results. The system presents the replicated electronicdata to a user by displaying a list of the one or more replicatedelectronic data, which have matching categories with the search result.

In a further aspect of the invention, a computer program productcomprising a computer usable medium having readable program codeembodied in the medium includes at least one component to implementsteps of the invention.

A further aspect of the invention includes a method for deployingcomputing infrastructure, comprising integrating computer-readable codeinto a computing system. The code in combination with the computingsystem is capable of performing a process of replicating said processcomprising the steps of invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is a block diagram of an environment implementing embodimentsof the invention;

FIG. 1 b is a block diagram of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a flow-chart identifying sub-set replication using a“learning” system in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart identifying a server side storage andexecution example in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart identifying a sub-set replication queryretrieval example in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates logic flow in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a graphical user interface (GUI) representing the sub-setreplication query for a current transaction; and

FIG. 7 shows an advanced dialog box in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a system and method for replicatingelectronic data using rule based filtering and/or artificialintelligence. The invention can be implemented for searching,replicating and retrieving electronic data within any database, over anydistributed network or stand-alone server, for example. The system andmethod of the invention, in one embodiment, accelerates a user'sretrieval of such electronic documents, e.g., email, presentations,videos, etc, by, in one implementation, filtering on a transaction pertransaction basis based on the characteristics of the electronic data atany given moment. This provides exceptional granularity and flexibilityin prioritizing the replication of the data.

In aspects of the invention, the replication may be based on meta dataincluding context, correlation between email and calendar, sender,recipient and subject matter using, for example, artificial intelligenceof a server. By using the artificial intelligence, in conjunction (orseparately) with the rule based filtering, the artificial intelligence“learns” the types of queries the user performs most often and willdistribute an automatic replication theory based on these uses. Theartificial intelligence may also refer to other factors to the automaticreplication theory such as, for example, calendar entries to correlatean efficient level of automatic replication based on key elements. Inthis manner, the electronic data can be tagged and queried allowing fora more “intelligent” type of approach to replication.

By using the system and method of the invention, point-in-time sub-setidentification and replication based on a variety of schemes includingrule based filtering is accomplished. This solves the prioritizationproblem of time-constrained document replication and allows a user tospecify which documents would be downloaded, by any of severalmechanisms discussed herein.

It should be understood by those of skill in the art that the examplesprovided herein are based on the replication of email; however, thesystem and method of the invention is equally applicable to any datareplication solution. The term “replication” or variants thereof canimply either synchronization or one way (push or pull) data transfer;although, in the case of some conventions data is transferred and thenremoved from servers (POP3 Mail) (which is included in the scope of thisinvention).

FIG. 1 a shows an illustrative environment 10 for managing the processesin accordance with the invention. To this extent, the environment 10includes a computer infrastructure 12 that can perform the processesdescribed herein. In particular, the computer infrastructure 12 is shownincluding a computing device 14 that comprises a management system 30,which makes computing device 14 operable to perform the processesdescribed herein. The computing device 14 is shown including a processor20, a memory 22A, an input/output (I/O) interface 24, and a bus 26.Further, the computing device 14 is shown in communication with anexternal I/O device/resource 28 and a storage system 22B. As is known inthe art, in general, the processor 20 executes computer program code,which is stored in memory 22A and/or storage system 22B. While executingcomputer program code, the processor 20 can read and/or write data, suchas the business solution 50, to/from memory 22A, storage system 22B,and/or I/O interface 24. The bus 26 provides a communications linkbetween each of the components in the computing device 14. The I/Odevice 28 can comprise any device that enables an individual to interactwith the computing device 14 or any device that enables the computingdevice 14 to communicate with one or more other computing devices usingany type of communications link.

In any event, the computing device 14 can comprise any general purposecomputing article of manufacture capable of executing computer programcode installed thereon (e.g., a personal computer, server, handhelddevice, etc.). However, it is understood that the computing device 14 isonly representative of various possible equivalent computing devicesthat may perform the processes described herein. To this extent, inother embodiments, the functionality provided by computing device 14 canbe implemented by a computing article of manufacture that includes anycombination of general and/or specific purpose hardware and/or computerprogram code. In each embodiment, the program code and hardware can becreated using standard programming and engineering techniques,respectively.

Similarly, the computer infrastructure 12 is only illustrative ofvarious types of computer infrastructures for implementing theinvention. For example, in one embodiment, the computer infrastructure12 comprises two or more computing devices (e.g., a server cluster) thatcommunicate over any type of communications link, such as a network, ashared memory, or the like, to perform the process described herein.Further, while performing the process described herein, one or morecomputing devices in the computer infrastructure 12 can communicate withone or more other computing devices external to computer infrastructure12 using any type of communications link. In either case, thecommunications link can comprise any combination of various types ofwired and/or wireless links; comprise any combination of one or moretypes of networks (e.g., the Internet, a wide area network, a local areanetwork, a virtual private network, etc.); and/or utilize anycombination of various types of transmission techniques and protocols.

FIG. 1 b is a block diagram of an embodiment of the invention, generallydenoted by reference numeral 100. Similar to FIG. 1 a, the components ofFIG. 1 b may be used to implement the processing of the invention, asdiscussed more fully below. The invention includes at least one userworkstation 105 (i.e., a computer for a user, a workstation, clientworkstation, remote device, etc.) which typically has a memory device(for example, a hard drive, DVD drive, or the like), processor andaccompanying components, all well-known to those of skill in the art.The user workstation 105 may be connected via a network 110 (e.g., alocal area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), wireless network,or the Internet) to one ore more server 115. For illustrative purposes,the server 115 may be representative of content sources which one ofordinary skill in the art would recognize may be any number of serversand may be different content sources such as, for example, WebSphere,DB2 databases, Web sites, or the like.

Still referring to FIG. 1 b, in embodiments of the invention, a remotedevice 120 is in communication with the server via a same or differentnetwork connection, depending on the specific implementation of theinvention. The remote device 120 may be a computer, workstation, PDA,cellular telephone or any other type of device capable of downloadingelectronic data.

The system of the invention further includes a rule base filteringmechanism 130 and an artificial intelligence agent 135, which may beresident on the server, in embodiments. The rule based filteringmechanism 130 provides the user the ability to define email replicationrule sets with user and subject filtering. The rule sets may be definedby the user as a permanent setting or for a one-time replication action.For example, in one application, the system and method provides receiveand send definitions: “Mail Replication options--select inbox oroutbox”. These definitions may include, for example:

-   -   Replicate only files with attachments: This allows the user to        request replication based on any part of the email form.    -   Replicate based on search criteria. This allows a user to define        a certain criteria to search any part of an email or emails;    -   Replicate based on rules defined by usage patterns; This allows        a user to obtain emails based on patterns of viewed emails;    -   Replicate based on rules defined by device: This allows a user        to obtain emails based on events such as, for example, time of        day, calendar, scheduled event, previously viewed emails,        recipients, senders, etc. and/or    -   Replicate based on predefined rules: This allows a user wherein        rules are optionally shared

By using these definitions, the system and method offers granularcontrol over data replication at transaction time thus providing theemail recipient with the ability to identify and selectively replicatedata on a transaction by transaction basis.

It is contemplated herein that two methods can be used to accomplish thedata replication, in accordance with the invention. These methodsinclude, for example, a rule based filtering system accessible by a userusing a graphical user interface and a machine learning approach. Thegraphical user interface offers a method for restricting replicationbased on data properties and more advanced search criteria and datasampling; whereas, the machine learning (or AI) approach allows thesystem to perform pattern analysis as a basis for replication priority.In this latter approach, the user is able to gain benefits without theneed for defining rules.

The system and method of the invention provides the ability to modify agiven replication transaction in the following ways:

-   -   Identify a sub-set replication query through the use of basic        terms defined by the data format. For email this might include,        from, urgency tagging, profile or device definition or size.    -   Identify a sub-set replication query in a more advanced query        based on free text matching against known fields in the data        format using AND, OR, NOT, CONTAINS, BEGINS WITH, ENDS WITH, or        other Boolean expressions.    -   Preview results by identifying a sub-set replication query by        defining a query, pulling headings and presenting the list        before executing replication with the query.    -   Identify a sub-set replication query by defining a query,        pulling headings selecting one or more results identifying data        to replicate. Alternatively, the selection of one or more        results is performed using a likeness system (known to those of        skill in the art) where all data similar to the selected data is        replicated.    -   Execute a sub-set replication query based on previous queries.        In this example, the sub-set replication can be scheduled.    -   Identify sub-set replication queries used most frequently and        running automatically on behalf of the user.    -   Automatically defining or identifying previous queries based on        device profile on behalf of the user, by the system.    -   Sub-set queries defined and stored in a portable structured        markup supporting the publishing and sharing of queries.

In the later example, the following is provided as a pseudocode forimplementing the invention.

<sub-set-replication-query type=”mail” owner=”bgoodman”signature=”$#%@$%REWRGFRGSDF”> <restrictions field=”name”type=”contains” value=”Rachel Thomas”/> <restrictions field=”profile”type=”equalto” value=”GSM Modem”/> </sub-set-replication-query>

As discussed, the system and method of the invention has the ability toreplicate documents based on the user's calendar events. By way ofillustrative example, the replication system may determine the currenttime, query (or look at) the user's calendar entries for the near termand automatically replicate emails (or other database documents) basedon the content of the user's upcoming or current calendar entries, e.g.,events, persons, times, etc. So, for example, if user “A” has a customermeeting at 11:00 AM with four customers, “B”, “C”, “D” and “E”, and thecurrent time is 10:30 AM, the replication will automatically prioritizereplication so that any emails or documents from “B”, “C”, “D” and “E”and subject related to the customer meeting are prioritized and sent tothe user prior to any other emails or documents.

In another application using the calendar events, the system is capableof identifying “down” periods of replication time on the calendar. Forexample if “A” has a flight scheduled on the calendar, the system couldrealize that “A's” replication priorities for the customer meetingshould become active earlier in the day since “A” will not be able toreplicate very much, if at all, prior to the meeting. Calendar entrieswould have a field that describes these down periods or off networkperiods as such or an intelligent agent could scan entries and make thatdetermination.

Additionally, in the example of using the user's history, a log wouldmaintain a history to determine all emails that were read/opened/viewedwithin a certain, predetermined time period. The time threshold would bea profile based and definable by the user. With this implementation, allemail recipients on the carbon copy or send to list in recently viewedemails would automatically be prioritized for the next replication ofincoming email.

FIGS. 2-5 are flow diagrams of an embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 2-5may also be representative of a high-level block diagram, implementingthe steps of the invention. The steps of FIGS. 2-5 may be implemented oncomputer program code in combination with the appropriate hardware. Thiscomputer program code may be stored on storage media such as a diskette,hard disk, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or tape, as well as a memory storage deviceor collection of memory storage devices such as read-only memory (ROM)or random access memory (RAM).

Referring now to FIG. 2, a flow diagram identifying sub-set replicationusing a “learning” system to permit automatic querying of a server isshown. In this example, the system determines queries most frequentlyused and runs the system automatically on behalf of the user; that is,this example shows a simple query using basic terms, which may bedefined as urgent tag, profile or size.

At step 200, the system of the invention receives a subset replicationquery. This query may be, for example, to correlate recently viewedemail to new incoming email (recipient to recipient type matches). Atstep 205, the system of the invention identifies and assigns unique keysrepresenting the query. As an example, the system performs an actualtext search for a specific keyword, name, etc. At step 210, the systemincrements a key value for the query in order to learn the usagefrequency of this query, and stores the query in a database, forexample. At step 215, the query data is previewed before execution. Thequery can be built into a “most frequent” list, which may, inembodiments, be shared amongst users. At step 220, the query isautomatically run without being prompted, in embodiments, using akeyword search to execute query. At step 225, the results of the queryare returned to the user.

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart identifying a server side storage andexecution example in accordance with the invention. In this example, thesub-set query execution is stored and executed on the server side in apre-emptive or request driven manner. As should be understood, this isan example of a different end-user application to perform the requestsin FIG. 2.

At step 300, a request for a replication from a wireless applicationprotocol (WAP) is made. By way of another example, a server or wirelessservice (or both) is used as an interface between the email server and adevice. At step 305, the system of the invention identifies and assignsunique keys representing the query. In an example, the system performsan actual text search for a specific keyword, name, etc. At step 310,the system checks the query data for a service side query. At step 315,the query is run. At step 320, the results of the query are returned tothe user.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart identifying a sub-set replication queryretrieval example in accordance with the invention. In this example, theserver learns from high usage of repetitive queries by the user and thendefines rules automatically. At step 400, the system receives a requestfor a service side predefined set replication query. At step 405, thesystem checks queries base on current user, profile or rules. At step410, the personalized results are returned based on high usage.

FIG. 5 illustrates a logic flow in accordance with the invention. Inthis flow, data replication can be initiated by either a user or thesystem of the invention. In FIG. 5, as with other embodiments, the flowof the method, depending on the source device/location requesting aquery, may be implemented on a wireless device, and the options may bedisplayed differently (text versus GUI) or may not be displayed asdefined by the program. In this embodiment, the invention utilizes themetadata of email headers

At step 500, data replication is initiated. At step 505, options areshown to the user. This step may be optional depending on the locationor settings. The options may be a drop down menu requesting the user toselect whether rules are to be used to obtain an electronic document(email). If the user does not select any rules, for example, the flowwill continue to step 510, at which stage all of the emails will beretrieved from the server. If the user selects a rule(s), the systemwill proceed to step 515.

At step 515, a dialog box, such as that shown in FIG. 6, may beprovided. This provides the user with the option of selecting a certainrule. At step 520, the rule(s) are processed (such as described withreference to FIG. 2). At step 525, a decision will be made to replicatethe subset of documents, in accordance with the defined rules. If not,the system will be aborted at step 530. If the documents are to bereplicated, then replication will begin at step 535.

FIG. 6 shows a graphical user interface (GUI) representing a sub-setreplication query for a current transaction. The GUI includes severalprocessing rules used to build a query. These rules permit filteringbased on any part (field) of the document. Some examples of specifying asub-set replication includes any query defined by data format fields(e.g., size, urgency) or environment variables (e.g., requesting device,location—longitude & latitude, time, schedules).

The GUI may include, for example, the following dialog boxes:

-   -   replicate email from, 600;    -   replicate email tagged as, 605;    -   replicate based on profile 610; and    -   replicate based on size, 615.        The email replication may be initiated by selecting the        “replicate” option 620 or canceled by selecting the “cancel”        option 625, as discussed fully with reference to FIG. 5, for        example. In addition, the GUI may include an advanced option        feature 630.

In the example of FIG. 6, the options may provide the user with manydifferent variations. For example, the “replicate email tagged as”option 605 may include different priority options ranging from low tohigh, as well as using specific content queues, etc. The “replicate baseon size” 615 option might indicate to compress the content, transfer alimited number of data elements at a time or restrict the transfer to apredefined byte count (some plans charge per MB). The predefinedreplication rule sets can also be shared amongst users.

FIG. 7 shows an advanced dialog box in accordance with the invention. Inthis dialog box, generally referred to as reference numeral 700, theuser is provided with advanced options for querying of a server basedon, for example, the initial request of FIG. 6. In this example, queryterms can be added or removed to arrive at a complex data filter. Inthis example, the queries are based on the available fields as definedby the data format.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the user is provided with a drop down menuof Boolean and other variable terms, generally shown at referencenumeral 705. These terms may include: “is”, “greater than”, “less than”,as well as further definitions which may be based on the initial searchterm of FIG. 6. The sample selection 710 provides the user with theability to execute the query against the email server to “sample” theresults. The query can then be run to select the documents forreplication, selected individually or “clicked” for other selectionoptions shown generally at reference numeral 715. Also, using theselections in box 715, the user has the ability to preview the resultset before replication and then graphically picks and choose whichreplication the user desires.

The GUI of FIG. 7 also offers the ability to select more 720 or fewer725 selections. The user also has the ability to replicate some or allof the results by selecting the replicate option, after highlighting thesamples and selecting the “Replicate” option 730. By using the systemand method, the user also has the ability to replicate documents “like”the documents found in the advanced search query, using well-knownlikeness applications. In this manner, more detailed filtering andpreview options are available.

The end user could also view the current replication priority andmanually change it based on the GUI rather than a set of replicationformulae. For example, the end user might want to simply look at thereplication queue without any search queries defined and locate adocument lower in the list, decide they need that document, and thenclick and drag that document to the top of the list or right click andidentify it as a high priority, etc. This method would not require theuser to enter any search queries. By way of illustration, person “A” istraveling and only has access to the network with a wide area wirelesscell phone (slow speed). The person “A”, can review the list of pendingreplication and click or select a specific email (header info, reference715) and identify it as the first email to replicate.

The advanced feature, as well as the options of FIG. 6 may also be usedto learn information from the user for future queries. Finally,selecting the “Replicate” selection 715 can be selected to initiatereplication procedures based on the sub-set replication query. All otheractions might result in full-replication or process termination.

In embodiments, the systems and/or methods described in FIGS. 2-9 may beimplemented and executed from either a server, in a client serverrelationship, or they may run on a user workstation with operativeinformation conveyed to the user workstation to create the navigationoutlined above. Additionally, the invention can take the form of anentirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or anembodiment containing both hardware and software elements.

In an embodiment, the invention is implemented in software, whichincludes but is not limited to firmware, resident software, microcode,etc. Furthermore, the invention can take the form of a computer programproduct accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable mediumproviding program code for use by or in connection with a computer orany instruction execution system. For the purposes of this description,a computer-usable or computer readable medium can be any apparatus thatcan contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program foruse by or in connection with the instruction execution system,apparatus, or device. The medium can be an electronic, magnetic,optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (orapparatus or device) or a propagation medium. Examples of acomputer-readable medium include a semiconductor or solid state memory,magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a random access memory(RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk and an opticaldisk. Current examples of optical disks include compact disk-read onlymemory (CD-ROM), compact disk-read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD.

A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing programcode will include at least one processor coupled directly or indirectlyto memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can includelocal memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulkstorage, and cache memories which provide temporary storage of at leastsome program code in order to reduce the number of times code must beretrieved from bulk storage during execution. Input/output or I/Odevices (including but not limited to keyboards, displays, pointingdevices, etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly or throughintervening I/O controllers. Network adapters may also be coupled to thesystem to enable the data processing system to become coupled to otherdata processing systems or remote printers or storage devices throughintervening private or public networks. Modems, cable modem and Ethernetcards are just a few of the currently available types of networkadapters.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a business method thatperforms the process steps of the invention on a subscription,advertising, and/or fee basis. That is, a service provider, such as aSolution Integrator, could offer to provide replication of data based onAI or rule based filtering, for example. In this case, the serviceprovider can create, maintain, and support, etc., a computerinfrastructure that performs the process steps of the invention for oneor more customers. In return, the service provider can receive paymentfrom the customer(s) under a subscription and/or fee agreement and/orthe service provider can receive payment from the sale of advertisingcontent to one or more third parties.

EXAMPLE

As an illustrative example, consider a scenario where an executive is todeliver a strategically important presentation, focused on futurecompany direction. In this meeting, everything must go flawlessly inorder to sell this new groundbreaking concept. An urgent phone messagefrom the financial planner is received that there was a severe mistakein the cost analysis section. The financial planner has now updated andretransmitted the presentation as “Urgent”. The presenter must get theupdated presentation. The challenge is that the meeting starts in fiveminutes. With the implementation of the system and method of theinvention, the executive can replicate the urgent message by using arule, which filters to the sender, time and content of the document, forexample.

While the invention has been described in terms of embodiments, thoseskilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practicedwith modifications and in the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

1. A method, comprising: filtering electronic data on a transaction pertransaction basis using a processor on a server; replicating thefiltered electronic data in response to a request to obtain electronicdata on the transaction per transaction basis using the processor on theserver; providing the filtered replicated electronic data for viewingusing the processor on the server; using the processor on the server todistribute a replication theory for the replicating based on informationlearned from types of queries performed by a user.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein: the replicating step is provided from a data store,and the providing step comprises sending the filtered replicatedelectronic data over a network to an end user.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the replicating is based on characteristics of the electronicdata at any given time.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the providingstep comprises displaying a number of results associated with thereplicated electronic data for sampling and further refinement.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the filtered replicated electronic data hasmatching criteria to at least matching criteria to previous searchbehavior and one or more defined rules.
 6. The method of claim 5,wherein the one or more rules includes replicating based on at least oneof files with attachments, search criteria, usage patterns, devicedefined rules, and shared rules.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein theone or more rules are defined as a permanent setting or for a one-timereplication action based on meta data including at least one of context,correlation data, email and calendar, sender, recipient and subjectmatter.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing agraphical user interface (GUI) to input rules for filtering theelectronic data.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the GUI restrictsreplication based on at least one of data properties, advanced searchcriteria and data sampling.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the GUIincludes processing rules used to build a query and provides optionsincluding at least one of replicate email from, replicate email taggedas, replicate based on profile and replicate based on size.
 11. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising performing pattern analysis of theelectronic data as a basis for replication priority.
 12. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising replicating the electronic data based oncalendar events.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the calendar eventsinclude “down” periods of replication time on the calendar.
 14. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising modifying a given replicationtransaction.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the modifying comprisesat least one of: identifying a sub-set replication query through atleast one of basic terms defined by a data format, an advanced querybased on free text matching against known fields in the data format anda likeness system; previewing results by identifying a sub-setreplication query; executing a sub-set replication query based onprevious queries; automatically defining or identifying previous queriesbased on device profile; and defining and storing in a portablestructured markup supporting sharing queries.
 16. The method of claim 1,further comprising providing a user history log to determine allelectronic documents that were read/opened/viewed within a certain,predetermined time period.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the stepsof claim 1 are provided on a subscription, advertising, and/or feebasis.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of claim 1 areprovided by a service provider which creates, maintains, and supports acomputer infrastructure that performs the steps of claim
 1. 19. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising receiving payment from customer(s)under a subscription and/or fee agreement.
 20. The method of claim 1,further comprising: receiving a subset replication query; identifyingand assigning unique keys representing the replication query;incrementing a key value for the query in order to learn usagefrequency; previewing the electronic data associated with the querybefore execution; and automatically running the query without beingprompted.
 21. The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving aquery request for replication; identifying and assigning unique keysrepresenting the query; checking the query data for a service sidequery; running the query and providing the results of the query to auser.
 22. A method for deploying computing infrastructure, comprisingintegrating computer-readable code into a computing system, wherein thecode in combination with the computing system is capable of performing aprocess of replicating said process comprising: filtering electronicdata on a transaction per transaction basis using a processor on aserver; replicating the filtered electronic data in response to arequest to obtain electronic data on the transaction per transactionbasis using the processor on the server; and providing the filteredreplicated electronic data for viewing using the processor on theserver; using the processor on the server to distribute a replicationtheory for the replicating based on information learned from types ofqueries performed by a user.
 23. The method of claim 20, wherein thesubset replication query is defined by a requesting device, a longitudelocation, a latitude location, a time, and a schedule.
 24. The method ofclaim 23, wherein the replicating is based on content of a user'supcoming or current calendar entries, the calendar entries includingevents, persons, and times.